Volar Alta on India’s Official Business Delegation to Italy with Hon’ble Minister Piyush Goyal

Volar Alta was honoured to represent India’s growing deep-tech ecosystem as part of the Government of India’s Official Business Delegation to Italy, led by Hon’ble Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal. Held in Brescia, Italy - an established hub for manufacturing and innovation—the visit marked the 22nd session of the India–Italy Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC).

This engagement provided a powerful platform for startups like Volar Alta to participate in high-level policy dialogues, deepen industrial cooperation, and promote AI-powered solutions for global industries.

Shishir Kolte [Product Development, Volar Alta], Hon'ble Minister Piyush Goyal, Niharika Kolte Alekar [Founder & CEO, Volar Alta]

Key Focus Areas: Innovation, Trade, and Regulation

1. Deepening Industrial and Startup Collaboration

The delegation emphasized advancing co-manufacturing, engineering, and technology transfer between Indian and Italian enterprises. Special attention was given to enabling startup participation in cross-border industrial value chains.

2. Supporting Free Trade Through Regulatory Harmonization

India and the EU are moving toward a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and discussions during the visit spotlighted the need to align technical and safety standards for emerging technologies - including UAVs, robotics, and industrial AI.

3. Securing Critical Mineral Supply Chains

As India transitions toward cleaner and more autonomous industrial systems, the delegation underscored the importance of diversifying critical mineral sources to support energy, mobility, and hardware innovation.

4. Sectoral Cooperation in High-Tech Fields

Opportunities for cooperation were mapped across aerospace, agri-tech, green energy, and intelligent logistics - sectors where AI and drone-powered systems are rapidly transforming operational performance.

5. Infrastructure to Support Long-Term Investment

India proposed the development of an Italian industrial enclave with integrated education and healthcare facilities to encourage sustained foreign investment and co-development initiatives.

Volar Alta’s Contributions to the Global Dialogue

Volar Alta shared actionable perspectives rooted in its work at the intersection of AI, drone-based inspections, and intelligent logistics. Our interventions focused on:

• Accelerating Drone & AI Regulatory Approvals: Advocated for fast-tracked certification for AI-powered inspection drones to align Indian and EU airworthiness and safety frameworks.

• Creating Structured Startup–OEM Collaborations: Highlighted the need for formal collaboration pathways between Indian deep-tech startups and global drone and robotics OEMs - enabling co-development, pilot integration, and localized deployment.

• Embedding Technical Standards in Trade Agreements: Emphasized the integration of UAV, data privacy, and AI governance standards within upcoming FTAs to ensure operational clarity and smoother market entry for Indian startups.

These contributions were well-received by senior stakeholders, reinforcing the critical role startups play in shaping India’s international technology and trade agenda.

Why This Matters for Indian Startups and Industry

India’s innovation ecosystem is now deeply integrated into global industrial transformation. Volar Alta’s participation showcased how AI-driven, high-compliance technology can address real-world operational challenges in sectors like oil & gas, power, chemicals, and manufacturing.

For emerging technology ventures, international engagements like these:

• Open doors to joint pilots and global testbeds

• Provide visibility into European regulatory frameworks

• Offer opportunities for strategic partnerships and commercial deployment

This experience also helped benchmark Volar Alta’s products against the world’s best, especially in terms of inspection data standards, predictive maintenance tools, and autonomous flight systems.

Looking Ahead

As global industries transition toward autonomy and data-driven compliance, Volar Alta is committed to building a future where AI, drones, and robotics form the foundation of sustainable industrial operations.

We thank the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Hon’ble Minister Piyush Goyal for providing this opportunity. We remain dedicated to advancing India’s position as a global leader in deep-tech and industrial AI.

Interested in collaborating with us for a pilot or regulatory sandbox? Contact our partnerships team → anuja@volaralta.com